Octans

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Octans (constellation))
Jump to: navigation, search
The Octans is also a training vessel from the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz. See: www.mi.nhl.nl
Octans
Octans
Click for larger image
List of stars in Octans
Abbreviation: Oct
Genitive: Octantis
Symbology: the Octant
Right ascension: 22 h
Declination: −90°
Area: 291 sq. deg. (50th)
Main stars: 3
Bayer/Flamsteed stars: 27
Stars known to have planets: 2
Bright stars: 0
Nearby stars: 0
Brightest star: ν Octantis (3.73m)
Nearest star: HD 212168 (75.2 ly)
Messier objects: 0
Meteor showers:  ?????
Bordering constellations: Tucana
Indus
Pavo
Apus
Chamaeleon
Mensa
Hydrus
Visible at latitudes between +0° and −90°
Best visible at 21:00 (9 p.m.) during the month of October
Circumpolar.

Octans (pronounced /ˈɒktænz/, Latin: eighth part of a circle, alluding to octant (instrument)) is an inconspicuous constellation introduced by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille. It is notable mainly as the location of the south celestial pole. Its star Sigma Octantis (σ Oct) is the closest naked-eye star to the pole, but it is so faint that it is practically useless as a polar star for navigation purposes. Fortunately, the constellation Crux, the Southern Cross, points at the pole.

The constellation is circumpolar to the South Celestial Pole, so it can be seen in Southern Hemisphere skies during the evening in any month of the year. The Right Ascension and month of best visibility given are for the three brightest stars, which are at their highest in the sky during the evening in November.

Since Octans was introduced in the 18th century, and lies near the southern pole, it was not known to classical or early cultures, and so they produced no mythology concerning it.

  • Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion (2007). Collins Stars and Planets Guide, HarperCollins, London. ISBN 978-0007251209.













Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Advanced Search
Included Web Search Engines


Safe Search

close

Top Matching Results

Occasionally Search.com will highlight specialized results that are based on the context of your query. Examples of specialized results include specific links to news, images, or video.

Top Matching Results may highlight information from other Search.com pages, content from the CNET Network of sites, or third party content. The listings are based purely on relevance. Search.com does not receive payment for listings in this section but our partners that provide this data may get paid for listing these products.

Sponsored Links

This section contains paid listings which have been purchased by companies that want to have their sites appear for specific search terms and related content. These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by a third party and are not endorsed by Search.com.

Search Results

Search.com sends your search query to several search engines at one time and integrates the results into one list which has been sorted by relevance using Search.com's proprietary algorithm. You can customize the list of search engines included in your metasearch from the preferences.

The search engines that are used in your metasearch may allow companies to pay to have their Web sites included within the results. To view the Paid Inclusion policy for a specific search engine, please visit their Web site. Search.com does not accept payment or share revenue with any search engine partner for listings in this section.